Western US: The Triple Threat of Climate Change

The western United States has been dealing with a triple threat from climate change. Extreme heat, wildfire burn zones, and wildfire smoke have been causing trouble from 2006 to 2020. These hazards often happen at the same time, and it's important to understand where and when this occurs. Let's start with the numbers. Over 18, 000 areas were studied. Each area faced at least one of these hazards for an average of 32 days each year. That's a lot of days spent dealing with extreme conditions. The most common double threat was extreme heat and wildfire smoke. This combination happened on average 38, 218 days per year across different areas. The regions affected by this double threat changed from year to year.

Wildfire burn zones, however, were more predictable. They didn't spread out much and didn't increase over time. But when they did occur, they often happened in California, Arizona, and Oregon. These states saw the most days with all three hazards combined. Now, who is most affected by these hazards? Unfortunately, it's often the most vulnerable people. Areas with the highest exposure to all three hazards had more older adults, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty. Additionally, American Indian and Alaska Native individuals faced these hazards disproportionately. As climate change continues to accelerate, it's crucial to keep track of these coexposures. This information can help direct resources to protect the health of those most at risk. It's not just about understanding the problem; it's about taking action to mitigate its effects.

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